Several members of the Rastafari Community in Antigua and Barbuda, on
Thursday held a celebratory session of chanting and praying at the Office of the
Prime Minister to mark the anniversary of the 136 th birthday of Marcus Garvey.
The group comprised largely, of members of the Ethiopia Africa Black
International Congress, as well as members of other Rastafari groups on the island.
“We decided, that since this is the 136 th anniversary of the birth of one of the
greatest prophets to have ever lived, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, we decided to pay a
courtesy call on the staff of the OPM, to share our joy and our celebrations,”
shared Priest T.O.N Isaac, who serves as the church’s ambassador assigned to
Antigua and Barbuda.
Marcus Garvey was born in St Ann’s Bay in Jamaica, on August 17, 1888, and he
led a movement that had as its aim the reparation of former enslaved people in the
Caribbean and the Americas to Africa.
“After slavery, many of the formerly enslaved people were still enslaved mentally
and Marcus Garvey was the one who said, ‘free your minds!’ and brought back
pride to the Africans in the diaspora,” he explained.
According to Priest Isaac – Garvey and his movement were seen as a threat to the
established order of the day. Such were the fears that he generated, that the US FBI
was said to have appointed its first black agents to serve as spies to report on the
inner workings of Garvey’s movement.
Greetings were also expressed by Secretary of Congress, Priest Vincent Isaac,
Priest O’Garro of Trinidad and Tobago, Priest Shimron Davidson, and Ras Selah
High Priest of the Big Creek Rastafari group.
The Rastafari leadership said they wanted to especially express their appreciation
to Prime Minister Gaston Browne for his several policy moves that are beneficial
to Rastafari. The prime minister’s efforts to establish an air bridge with Africa was
particularly singled out for praise and commendation.
During the session, the Rastafari made a presentation of the group’s local products
as well as a letter to Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Permanent Secretary in the
OPM, Stacy Gregg-Paige, accepted the packages on behalf of PM Browne who is
traveling.
Chief of Staff in the OPM, Ambassador Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst, expressed thanks and
appreciation to the Rastafari community for sharing the afternoon with staff at the
office.
Princess Akasha-Menen Isaac made the formal presentation to PS Gregg-Paige.
